Alabama
Tennessee
Softball Holds Off Tennessee for Doubleheader Sweep
5/1/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 1, 2010
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score | Photo Gallery 
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Alabama softball team kept its Southeastern Conference title hopes alive with a doubleheader sweep over Tennessee Saturday on ESPN. The Crimson Tide secured a 4-2 win in game one and then held on for a 7-6 win in the nightcap. With the pair of victories Alabama has won 18 straight and improves to 42-9 overall and 20-4 in SEC play.
"It was a great night and a great atmosphere," Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy said. "It was a perfect night for college softball and it was a compliment to our fans. This is why you come and play at Alabama for an atmosphere like that."
Alabama hit five home runs on the day and shattered the SEC single season home run record en route to downing Tennessee. The Tide knocked two out of the park in game one and added three in the second game, including back-to-back homers to secure the record. Alabama has now tallied 88 home runs on the season, breaking the previous record of 86 held by Florida.
GAME ONE
The Alabama softball team opened its crucial three game series against Tennessee with a 4-2 victory. The Tide hit a pair of home runs and pitcher Kelsi Dunne fanned 12 en route to the series-opening victory.
Alabama tallied a single run in the first when Kendall Dawson drilled a double down the left field line to score Jazlyn Lunceford. Tennessee evened the score in the top of the third but the Tide came right back with two more in the fourth.
Whitney Larsen started the inning with a home run over the scoreboard and after a strikeout, Lunceford followed suit by finding the netting on the scoreboard to give Alabama a 3-1 lead.
The Lady Vols got one back in the sixth but once again the Tide had an answer. Courtney Conley hit a sac-fly to score Larsen.
Tennessee tried to rally in the seventh by loading the bases but Dunne shut the door. Dunne struck out 12 and allowed two runs - one earned en route to earning her ninth straight victory and improving to 22-4 on the season.
Larsen and Lunceford led Alabama at the plate with a pair of hits with the duo each scoring a pair of runs.
GAME TWO
Alabama raced out to an early 7-0 lead but Tennessee rallied and scored five runs in the seventh after adding one in the sixth to make it interesting. The Tide held on though as it earned the doubleheader sweep by the score of 7-6.
The Tide again opened the scoring, this time plating two in the first when Cassie Reilly-Boccia struck a two-run homer that scored Kayla Braud. The freshman started the inning with a leadoff walk.
Alabama erupted for five runs in the third on the strength of back-to-back homers. Courtney Conley hit a three run home run and then Kendall Dawson followed suit with a solo shot to jump out to a quick 6-0 lead. The Tide added another when Charlotte Morgan was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
Alabama looked like it would cruise to its 18th straight win but Tennessee scored six runs in the final two frames, including five in the seventh to make it a ball game. Kelsi Dunne came in and got the final strikeout to end the threat.
Morgan earned the win in the circle, allowing three runs - two earned on six hits in six innings to improve to 6-2 on the year. Dunne was tagged with three runs but struck out the side in the seventh.
NEXT UP
The two teams will wrap up the series on Sunday at 3:00 p.m. The game will be aired live on ESPNU with Cara Capuano and Michele Smith calling the action.
